Electric-line-apparatus protector.



P. K. HIGGINS,

ELECTRIC LINE APPARATUS PROTECTOR.

'-ARPIIICATION FILED 050.15 =13.

1,192,835. Patented July 25, 1916.

"WITNESSES: INYENTQR.

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B1 WW A fifi UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

PETER K. HIGGINS, 0F WACO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOIR '1. EREDERICK R. PARKER, QUE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIG-LINE-API ARATUS PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J l 25, 191%.

Original application filed October 22, 1903, Serial No. 178,140. Renewed July 22, 1913, Serial No. 0,5?1.

' Divided and this application filed December 15, 1913. Serial No. 806,826.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER K. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Waco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful ElectrioLine-Apparatus Protector, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating same.

This application is a division of my copending United States patent application Serial No. 780,571, filed July 22, 1913, on electric line apparatus protectors, which is a renewal of application Serial No. 17 8,140 on the same invention.

My invention relates to means for protecting telephone and other electrical cir-' cuits and apparatus from damage from electricity which would be injurious to the circuits or apparatus connected therewith, and sometimes to the users of such apparatus; and the principal object thereof is to provide a simple and efficient device for that purpose.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

I accomplish the desired results of this invention by means of the protector described herein, or modified forms thereof,

the preferred form of which is illustrated-1n;

' erably connected by conductor 21 to ground the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is an end elevation of one form of the protector of the invention, and F g. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section thereof with portions shown in elevation.

Like characters refer to like parts in the several figures. I r

In the drawings, 1 is an insulating base for the protector, to which are suitably mounted metallic springs 2 and 3 which are adapted to normally stand in the positions 1 and 5, respectively, shown in dotted lines. To the lower ends of the springs 2 and 3 are connected the line conductors (3 and7,respectively Theupper ends of the springsiZ and 3 are adapted to receive and hold the grooved metallic end terminals 8 and 9 of the body portion of the protector, preferably as shown. The metallic end terminals 8 and 9 are preferably provided with metallicstuds 10 10 which project into sockets 11 11 in the resistance or graphite core 12, being preferably held in these sockets by ,a low-melting-point solder,

which is fused around the studs 10 10 and then allowed to cool, so as to unite the me tallic end terminals 8 and 9 with the'core 12.

The core 12 is preferably a round rod and. may be termed the thermal rod. The core 12 is preferably surrounded by a dielec member 1 1, of celluloid or other suitabl material, which may be perforated to prov1de an air space or multiple spark gap be tween the core 12 and the tube 13 of con-- ducting material, preferably carbon, which surrounds the core 12. The tube 13 is prcf erably insulated from the metallic end terminals 8 and 9 by means of washers 15 and 16 of some suitable insulating materiahprel? erably mica. It will be seen that the tube 13 is of noninflammable material and that it consequently protects the inflammable di-' electric member or insulating material from burning, under various conditions.

Secured to the base 1 may be a contact spring 17 the free end of which may engage F5 the tube 13 when the body of the protector is in place between the springs 2 and 3 shown in Fig. 2. .This spring 17 is prefer ably connected by a conductor 18 with ground 19 or other suitable capacity. Se cured to the base 1 and out of contact with spring 2 but adapted to be. engaged thereby, may be a contact-member 20 which is pref- 19 or other suitable capacity. Afterthe body of the protector is as sembled as shown, the free ends of springs 2 and 3 are pressed toward each other and en gaged with the grooved end terminals 8 and 9 of the body of the protector, in a mann well understood, thereby holding the bed. portion of the protector securely in place between springs 2 and 3 and completing the main circuit through the protector from; conductor 6 through spring 2, terminal core 12, terminal 9, and spring 3 to conductor 7. Now, should a. telephone or other line equipped with my protector become cident-ally engaged with another linecarrr-- inga current of considerable volume but low voltage, the resistance encountered .1. the graphite core 12 by the abnormal cur-- rent traversing same would generate sailicient heat to soften or melt the solder which holds the studs 10 10 into the sockets ll 7. whereupon the springs 2 and 3 would cat t the metallic end terminals 8 rail from the body of the proius opening the main circuit therei and permitting the spring 2' to enrounded contact so as to switch ctlOlkilblQ current oil to ground. In anner the objectionable current is pmfrom injuriously affecting the appa- .,niectcil with the conductor 7.

the complete device as, shown, the telephone or other line become ng a currentof high voltage, this current lid are across the dielectric member 14- i core 12 to the tube 13 and pass on und through the conducting tube 1 3., ontact spring 1'7 and conductor 18, thus diverted om, the apparatus to be i. Lightning'also will pass off to in the same manner. In case the arc mes, the dielectric 14c may become by the heat thereof, whereupon the 1'? may press the conducting tube c contact with the core- 12 and thus e are, the current still passing off to nu through the spring 17 and conductor abovestated.

1" one or both of theend terminals 8 have separated from the body porthe protector as above set forth, the or may be repaired for further servby simply resoldering the terminals 8 and 9 to the body of the protector as originally, in any suitable manner.

'l 'lie protector of this invention may be utilized in various places inelectrical sys- Ien as, for example, at the terminals of A .es or lines entering central offices of unone systems, and also at the subscribstations in such systems.

.nc features of the lightning arrester oi? invention, and of the improved dielec- 2 used therein, are described and claimed i 3 parent application above mentioned, which this present application is a diririon.

it do not Wish to limit this invention to all of the particular details herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be made or utilized without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Neither do I wish to limit the materials of the device to those ticularly specified, as other materials also be used without departing from the scope and meaning of the appended era, as.

the metallic ends away from the core, a dielectric substance around the said core, a

5 tube of conducting material surrounding mntally engaged with another line car-- para ted from "lb 0 i the ends thcreot'. l ing a heating ele sistance material, ning means under nt. a thin layer Mll l the heating non-lull ial around the said insulattire said heating element, inmaterial and casing being closely :d with each other. i

new construction in an electrical a resistance heater ble retaining means creot, an envelop of con AlilOllIldlllgT the heater and. LllQ body same between thcreoi, metallic id plate coverand of the protector and electrically l witl the heater, and insula ing the said end plate from coralucting material. 'ical protector comprising metallic end terminals thereof which is secured thereto dc material, a dielectric l the said core, a tube oi aro runl the said dielec- J llll :nat'

said tube and the said end l means for connecting the said to ground. 4. in electrical protector comprising a, thermal core, metallic end terminals therefor at l one at which is secured thereto by heat-suscemr.ble material, a dielectric sub stance around the said core, a tube of conducting material around the said dielectric tance, and means for connecting the said to grcauid. 8. in electrical protector comprising a therma core, metallic end terminals therefor at one of which is secured thereto by l1eat-susceptible material, a dielectric substance armind the said core, and a tube of conducting material around the said dielectri c Substance.

it new construction in an electrical protector, con'inrising a resistance heater hating thci -releasable retaining means ainniable casing o'lf under control thereof, an envelop of conducting maoberial surrounding. the heater and separated from the body of same be tween the ends thereof, a terminal portion covering the end of the protector and electrically connected with the heater, and insulating material insulating the said terminal portion from the said envelop of conducting material.

10. A new construction in a heat-cartridge, comprising a carbonaceous resistance heater incased within a conductor, and thermally-releasable retaining means under con trol of the heater, the said conductor being separated. from the body of the heater along the sides of the latter by a thin layer of insulation interposed between the said heater and conductor and closely associated therewith 11.. A new construction in a. heat-can tridge, comprising a resistance heater-of aggregated comminuted material incased Within a conductor, and therniallyaeleasable retaining means under control of the heater, the said conductor being separated from the body of the heater along the sides of the latter by a thin layer of insulation interposed between the said heater and conductor abs and closely associated therewith.

12, A new construction in a heat-car-' tridge, comprising a heating element of carbonaceous resistance material, thermally releasable retaining means under control of the heating element, a thin layer of insulating material around the heating element along the sides of the latter, and a noninreleasable retaining means under control of the he ting element, a thin layer of insulating material around the heating element along the sides of the latter, and a nonnflammable casing of conducting material around the said layer of insulating material, the said heatingclement, insulating mate rial and casing being closely associated with each other.

14,-, A heat-cartridge having a resistance heater of aggregated comminuted material incased within a conductor, and thermallyreleasable retaining means under control of the heater, the said conductor heing slightly separated from the body of the heater be tween the ends thereof,

in an electrical protector having a heats. oi? carbonaceous resistancematerial with thcrmallv releasable retaining means under control of the heater and inflammable insulathig material around the heater, a

non inflammable covering of conducting material for the said inflammable insulat ing material, the said heater, insulating material covering being closely associated with each other. v

16. In an electrical protector having a heater of carbonaceous resistance material with thermally-releasable retaining means under control of the heater and non-conducting material'around the heater, a nonini'lammable covering of conducting material for the said non-conducting material, the said heater, non-conducting material and. covering being closely associated with each other,

ll". in an electrical protector having a heating element of aggregated comminuted material with thermally-releasable retaining means under control of the heating element and inflammable insulating material on the exterior thereof, a covering of non-inflammable conducting material for the said in,- flannnable insulating material and closely associated therewith.

18. in an electrical protector having a heating element of aggregated comminuted heater oi carbonaceous resistance material with thermally-releasable retainiin means under control of the heater and i on-con ducting material around the heater, a covering of conducting material for the said noncondncting material, the said heater, n0nco-ndi'zcting material and covering being closely associated. with each othein 20. In an electrical protector having a heating element of aggregated comminutcd naterial with thermallyreleasable retaining means under control of the heating element and non-conducting material on the exterior thereof, a covering of conducting material for the said non-conducting material and closely associated therewith.

21. A new construction in an electrical protector, comprising a resistance heater having thermally-releasable retaining means under controlthereof, an envelop of conducting material surrounding the heater, and separated from the body of same between the ends thereof, and a terminal por tion covering an end of the protector and electrically connected with the heater.

A heat-cartridge comprisin a carbonaceous resistance heater contained within a conductor, and thermally-releasable re taming means nnder control of the heater.

A heat-cartridge comprising a resistance heater of aggregated comminuted ma;

.terial contained Within a conductor, and

plate covering the end'of the protector and electrically connected with the heater.

As inventor of the foregoing l hereunto subscribe my name, this 19th day of November, 1913.

'. PETER K. HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

J. GARDNER, RUBY GUTIIRIE. 

